Civil hospital to get ultra-modern ICU Healthcare

Finally, Lord Mahavira Civil Hospital will get an upgraded Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that will cater to the health issues of needy patients in the district having population of nearly 35 lakh.

Chief minsiter Parkash Singh Badal during his visit to the civil hospital on Saturday morning, approved a grant of Rs 2 crore for setting up of ultra-modern ICU.

Chief minister asked the health department to prepare estimates by planning the whole project, so as to impart quality health services to people. He said the state government would soon release Rs 2 crore for this project, besides sanctioning the posts of the medical and para medical staff for this ICU. CM assured that necessary clearances would be given by the state government, shortly after receiving the estimates.

This announcement has given a relief to the patients, as earlier patients used to come here for treatment in critical condition, and they were usually referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh or Rajindra Hospital, Patiala due to lack of proper ICU facilities here.

Civil hospital does not even have proper ventilator facility. It has only two ventilators, out of which, one is used in the operation theater, and other is not in working condition.

The ICU established in the hospital does not have proper equipments, such as ventilators, monitors and central oxygen supply. Moreover, there are no trained nurses and anesthetist in the unit.

As per the sources, till now the ICU was just like another ward in the hospital, but only VIP patients or patients with references were usually kept here.

With this Rs 2 crore grant all necessary machines and equipments will be installed at the unit.

Shiv Ram Saroya, a social activist and head of Ann-Jal Sewa Trust, said, “Poor patients cannot afford expenses of private hospitals, and this ICU will provide them a great relief as well as a hope for better treatment.”

Senior medical officer Dr RK Karkra said this announcement would be of immense benefit to the hospital as well as patients. “Now we can cure patients with latest equipments,” Karkra said.

CM seeks suggestions from doctors

During his visit to civil hospital, chief minister also held a meeting with the doctors and asked for suggestions. Doctor of medicine Dr Avinash Jindal raised the issue of shortage of doctors and other staff in the hospital. He said this shortage was burdening doctors. Jindal also demanded that specialist doctors should not be deployed for postmortem and as emergency medical officer (EMO).

CM asked the principal secretary, health, Vinnie Mahajan, to note down the suggestions and to act on them. Later on, Vinnie Mahajan also held a meeting with doctors at SMO office. Here, doctors raised the matter of political interference in the working of doctors.